Team Canada in 2018 could include Crosby, MacKinnon

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby works the puck in the corner against Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon during a game in Pittsburgh last Oct. 21. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)

SOCHI, Russia — A decision on NHL players participating in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, could come in the next six months. But after back-to-back gold medals, here’s a look at what an NHL-loaded Team Canada might look like four years from now, with 2018 age in parentheses:

News flash: Canada’s absurd forward depth isn’t going anywhere. In fact, the talent might be even better with young wingers like Jonathan Huberdeau and Jonathan Drouin replacing the likes of Chris Kunitz and Patrick Marleau. Stamkos and Tavares deserve good health and a chance to shine on big ice in Pyeongchang. If this holds, 10 forwards from Sochi would be returnees, including five who won double gold — Crosby, Toews, Getzlaf, Perry and Bergeron. Rick Nash is just on the borderline. MacKinnon will be too good to keep off the team, while Connor McDavid (who will be 20) and Jonathan Drouin (22) might have to wait their turn like Crosby in 2006.

Weber could be this generation’s Chris Pronger, a big defenceman with a wicked shot who could still be effective by 2022. Doughty’s evolution from prospect in 2010 to game-changer in 2014 portends great things for 2018 if his development continues. On the left side, Canada will have decisions to make between the old guard, like smooth-skating Jay Bouwmeester, and younger players like Pouliot, who starred at the world junior championship. Just like in 2014, Canada is blessed (or cursed?) with having way too many right-handed-shooting defencemen, meaning if the style of play is like Sochi, Hamilton fits over Justin Schultz or P.K. Subban — who would still be only 28 — unless the Canadiens defenceman rounds out his game as he gets older.

There’s no reason to believe Price won’t return as the starter given that he’ll still be in his prime. Anyone could have made a case for Bernier in 2014, but a few more seasons will build up his body of work nicely. Incredibly, Malcolm Subban might have a better chance of making Team Canada than his brother. There isn’t a barrage of young, up-and-coming Canadian-born goaltenders already in the NHL, and the Americans have better prospects in the pipeline, including potential 2018 backup John Gibson.